Improvement in machines for cutting and printing indexes



2 She-ets--Sheet1. H H. EDWAR 08.

Machine for Cutting and Printing lndexs. N0.168,468, Patented0ct.5,i875,.

s e O Inventor:

Witnesses.

J6 Zi/f N.FETER5. PHOTOUTNOGRAPNER. wAsHINGYON, n C.

2Sheets--Sheet2. H. H. EDWARDS.

Machine for Cutting and Printing indexes. N0. 168,468. I Patented Oct.5,1875.

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WitTlCSSS. V In nior,

N. PETERS, PHOTO-UTHOGRAFHER, WASHINGTON. D C.

NITED STATES ATEN'I OFFICE.

HENRY H. EDWARDS, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR CUTTING AND PRINTING INDEXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 168,468, dated October5, 1875; application filed July 20, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, HENRY H. EDWARDS, of Grand Rapids, in the county ofKent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Index-Cutting Machines; and I do hereby declare that thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which willenable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and usethe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to theletters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of thisspecification.

The object of this invention is to furnish an improved machine forindexing books, in which the index-strips are cut and the lettersprinted in a more perfect and satisfactory manner than in machinesheretofore devised for the same purpose.

The invention consists, first, in the combination of a sliding orreciprocating feed-table, upon which the book is placed with avertically-operating knife or knives, and a horizontal bed-knife, thefeed-table being provided with a rack on its under side, into whichmeshes a spur-wheel, driven or rotated through the medium of aratchet-andpawl mechanism, which is actuated through the medium of adouble lever and a treadle-and-lever mechanism connected with the knife.The feed-table is so arranged that it will bemoved from the left to theright in cutting the indexes, and the cutting mechanism is so arrangedthat whenever the double knife is depressed to cut the index-strip thefeed-table will be held stationary, and when the knife rises or ascendsthe latter will be moved forward. to such an extent as will bring asucceeding page of the book'in proper position to be cut.

The invention also consists in the combination, with the feed-table andcutting mechanism, of a revolving type-wheel, having lettersalphabetically arranged upon its periphery, and an elastic inking-wheelarranged above the type-wheel, both wheels being mounted in anindependent vertically-movable frame located at the end of the machine,so that after the cutting operation has been performed, the

feed-table can be moved to the left to bring the different index-stripsunder the type-wheel when the printing operation is performed, by

alternately depressing the type wheel and moving the feed-table forwardto the left.

The invention further consists in the combination, with the feed-table,of a horizontally-adjustable slotted bracket or angleiron, carrying avertically-adjustable holder for one of the book-covers, the lower coverbeing held by a flanged plate adj ustably fitted to the table.

The invention also consists in making the cutting-knives adjustable in avertical direction by means of slots and screws, and adjustable in alengthwise or longitudinal direction through the medium of gibs andscrews, which double adjustment will, in connectionwith a horizontaladjustment given to the bed-knife, enable the different knives to bealways maintained in a proper position for perfectly performing thecutting operation.

'The invention also relates to means for enabling the movable knife orknives to make a short or long cut, to regulate the length of cut inindex; and it consists of a slotted guideplate on the raised stationarypart of the table, and a horizontally-adjustable fulcrum-post of thelever mechanism employed for moving the feed-table forward, saidfulcrunrpost being retained when adjusted by means of a nut applied toits threaded upper end, whereby adjustin g the fulcrum-post nearer orfarther from the bed-knife, will cause the feed-table to be moved agreater or less distance, according to the length of the index-strip orthe spaces required for one, two,or more letters during the movement ofthe table.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a top view of a machineembracing my invention. Fig. 2 is an end view. Fig. 3 is a verticalcross-section. tion.

In the drawing, A denotes the stationary table, which supports theentire cutting, printing, and operating mechanism. A sliding orreciprocating feed table or board, B, is arranged in a lower plane thanthe top of the table A, which feed table is so fitted and guided uponhorizontal ways that it can be moved to the right or left. Verticalstandards or brackets G, rising from the ends of the raised stationarypart of the table, are provided with vertical grooved front arms D,

Fig. 4 is a front elevaon the side of the table.

into which are fitted slides E, on the ends of a longitudinalknife-carrying bar, F. To the front side of said bar is adjustablysecured a long knife, G, by means of headed clamping or'thurnb screws a,passing through slots b in the knife, which can thus be adjusted in avertical direction. A narrow knife, H, is fitted to one end of the barF, for making the transverse cut in the leaf of the book. Said knife isalso slotted and attached to the carrying-bar by a screw. Gibs or keys0, introduced between the slides E and grooved arms D, can be adjustedthrough the medium of screws d, for the purpose. of imparting alongitudinal or lengthwise adjustment to the knives G EL The movablecutting-knives can thus be adjusted to enable the same to cut at alltimes against the edge of a bed-knife, I. Said knife rests horizontallyupon the table A, and it can be adjusted in a forward or backwarddirection through the medium of clampscrews 2 and long screw-stems J,which pass through stationary nuts 6 on the table A. A verticalreciprocating motion is imparted to the movable cutting-knives throughthe medium of a treadle, K, which is pivoted under the table at F andcarries a vertical rod, L,

at its rear end, to the upper end of which is connected the rear end ofacentrally-fulcrumed lever, M, its front end being attached to theknife-carrying bar E. N designates the fulcrum-post of said lever, whichis fixed to the top of the table.

By depressing the treadle, the movable knives are carried down upon thebed-knife to perform the cutting operation, and .upon the release of thetreadle a coiled spring, 0, connected therewith and to' thetable,'serves to return said knives to their normal or raised position.v

The feed-table B is moved forward, when the cutting-knives ascend,through the medium of a mechanism connected with and operated by thetreadle which actuates the cuttingknives. A rack-bar, P, secured to theunder side of the feed-table, is made to engage with a large spur-wheel,Q, mounted on a horizontal shaft, R, which is journaled in boxes orhangers g on the table, and carries a ratchetwheel or disk, S, at itsrear end. A longitudinal lever, T,journaled or hung upon the shaft R, isconnected at its free end with a laterallyextending lever, U, which isitself connected with another lever, V, pivoted to a bracket, '11, Saidlever V has its outer end connected with an arm, W, which is secured tothe rod L by a collar and setscrew.

Thus it will be perceived that, by the system of levers shown, thefeed-table will becarried forward after every stroke of the knives tosuch an extent as will properly bring a succeeding page of the bookunder the cuttingknives, to cut the index-strips at different pointsalong the edges .of the various leaves.

In performing the cutting operation the leaf of the book next the last,or the one,

which is to bear the letter Y, is cut first, and then the others aresuccessively dropped as the table is fed along and the cutters caused todescend.

In cutting indexes in books, some require one, some two, and othersthree letters to the leaf. This is accomplished Without changing thegage, bymaking a faint or slight cut, or by omitting to place the leafunder the bedknife when the movable knives are brought down by thetreadle.

In books of different lengths it is found necessary to increase ordiminish the spaces allowed for lettering. This is effected by a slottedguide-plate, X, on the tableA, through which passes the fulcrum-post Vof the intermediate slotted lever U, which fulcrum-post can be adjustedto change the throw of the levers and ratchet, thus enabling thefeedtable to be moved fast or slow.

When a short cut-is desired, the fulcrumpost is moved toward the knives;when a long one, it is moved in a reverse direction. A nut, Y, appliedto the upper end of the fulcrumpost, serves to secure the same inposition when adjusted.

The printing mechanism comprises a revolving wheel, A, carrying letters,or alphabetically-arranged characters, upon its periphery, and locatedbeneath a rubber-covered inkingwheel, B. The printing and'inking wheelsaremounted on a frame 0 which moves in avertical direction upon stems D,secured to the end of the table A. The frame is depressed to bring theprinting-wheel upon the leaf to be indexed, vby means of a treadle, E,which is connected with said frame by a rod, F. Coiled springs G,encircling the guidestems D, serve to raise the wheel-frame when thetreadle-pressure is removed.

The printing is commenced by moving the feed table to the left, theratchet mechanism having been previously disengaged through the mediumof a wire or spring hook, H, connected with the pawl lever, andextending through the table, where it is attached within convenientreach to the operating lever of the cutting-knives to hold the pawls outof gear. 7 Spring-hooks I carried by a plate, I at the side of the tableB, spring into niches or notches in the edge of the feed-table, to holdthe same locked, until wedges J are inserted between the hooks and tablefor disengaging the same.

A longitudinal gage-bar, K, at the inner side of the feed-table, can beadjusted in'a lateral direction by means of slotted end plates L, tosuit books differing inwidth. An adjustable slotted plate, a having aflanged end, a is applied to the feed-table in proper position toreceive and hold the lower cover of the book. An angle-plate, 11 havinghori-' zontal and vertical slots 12 h is also adjustai bly fitted to thetable, and carries a verticallyadjustable forked holder, b, for the topbookcover. The cover rests within the forks of the holder, and thelatter is secured at any height and angle by a clamp, b

I claim- 1. In a machine for indexing books, the combination of thesliding or reciprocating feedtable 13, vertically-movable knives G H,horizontal bed-knife I, treadle K, vertical connecting-rod. L, and leverM, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, with the movable knives G H and the feed-table B, ofthe centrally-fulcrurned lever M, treadle-connection K L, arm W, theconnected levers T U V, the tablegear connection therewith, and themovable fulcrum-post V whereby the same movement of the treadle operatesthe knives and effects the feed of the table for a long or short out, asregulated by the adjustment of the fulcrum-post, substantially as hereinset forth.

3. The combination, with the feed-table B and the cutting mechanism, ofthe printingwheel A, ink-roll B, separate carrying end frame 0 D, springG, and the treadle E, whereby the printing-wheel is adapted to beoperated independently of the cutting devices, and upon the reverse feedof the table, substantially as herein set forth.

4.. The combination of the horizontally-adjustable bracket and cover,holding-guide a and the vertically-adjustable cover-holder b, with thefeed-table and cutting mechanism of a book-indexing machine, as and forthe purpose set forth.

5. The separate movable knives G H, adjustable vertically andlongitudinally, and combined with the horizontally-adjustable knife I,such adjustment being made in relation to each other, for the purposeset forth.

6. The combination of the slotted guide and movable fulcrum-post V withthe system of levers, and ratchet-and-pawl mechanism and feed-table,substantially as herein set forth,

whereby the feed of the table is regulated to make a long or short out,according to the length of the index-strip and the spaces required forthe lettering.

7. The combination, with adjustable fulcrum-post V and the devices foruniting it with the treadle K and the feed-table B, of the clamping-nutY and the slotted table A, whereby the fulcrum-post is secured inposition when adjusted.

8. The combination, with the adjustable slotted flanged plate a a andthe angle-slotted plate b, having the adjustable forked holder b of thelongitudinally-adjustable gage-bar K and its slotted end plates L,whereby the book is secured and clamped upon the table in properrelation to the movable and fixed knives, as described.

9. In a machine for indexing books, the main table A, for supporting theentire cutting, printing, and operating mechanism, in combination withthe book-supporting and feedingtable B, placed in front of and at alower level than the fixed table, and having a movement to the right andleft to cut and print the leaves, as herein set forth.

10. The combination, with the separate knives Gr H I, of the screws J,a, d, and z, the slides E, and the adjustable gibs 0 0 in the groovedarms 0 D, as the means whereby the said knives are adjusted in relationto each other, as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have affixed mysignature in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY H. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

N. I. SMITH, MILO B. STEWART.

